Clock and interval timer apparatus



Oct. 20, 19'170y -c. osrER ETAL' 3,534,545

' .CLOCK AND INTERNAL TIMER APPARATUS Filed Jari. 24. 196sl l 1 f 2 sheets-sheet 1 F/VG.

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`IAJVEAJT-olzga: Char/es Os te r', Gerhard l @ser Oct. 20, 1970 c. osrER ETAL cLock AND INTERNAL TIMER APPARATUS Filed Jan. 24, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Two 3,534,545 CLOCK AND INTERVAL TIMER APPARATUS Charles Oster, Rockford, Ill., and Gerhard K. Losert, Louisville, Ky., assiguors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Jan. 24, 1969, Ser. No. 793,761 Int. Cl. G04f 3/04 U.S. Cl. 58-21.14 10 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combined clock and intarval timer includes a clock mechanism with an input gear, an interval timer mechanism with an input gear and a setting shaft for setting the clock mechanism and the interval timer mechanism. A motor for driving the apparatus is connected to a main gear, which is positioned on a second shaft between a first pinion, engaged with the clock input gear, and a second pinion, engaged with the timer input gear. A leaf spring clutch is mounted between the main gear and one of the pinions to provide a frictional coupling force connecting the main gear and each of the pinions. This frictional coupling force is sufficient to transfer driving motion from the main gear to each of the clock and interval timer mechanisms and is insufficient to transfer manual setting motion of either the clock or the timer mechanism to the main gear. With this apparatus the minute input gear and minute shaft may be constructed integrally and the clutch, normally interconnecting them, omitted.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to combined clock and interval timer apparatus of the type employed in range timers.

Combined clock and interval timers are well-known, commonly being employed in range timers. In such an apparatus, a clock mechanism is provided which tells the time of day and an interval timer is provided, and driven by the same driving motor as the clock mechanism, to provide an audible alarm upon expiration of a predetermined interval, such as for instance sixty (60) minutes. Also the clock mechanism may be connected to another control selectively for turning on the oven at a desired time of day and then turning it olf at a subsequent desired time of day so as to provide an automatic cycle of operation.

In one such prior art clock and interval timer apparatus, described and illustrated in United States Patent No. 2,993,099, issued to Malcolm G. Doyle, and assigned to the Assignee of the present application; the interval timer indicating shaft extends concentrically through the minute indicating shaft of the clock mechanism, the minute shaft and interval timer shaft respectively having input driving gears thereon. The minute and interval timer input gears are respectively driven by pinions coaxially mounted on a shaft with a gear driven by the clock motor. The minute pinion is secured to rotate with the driving gear while an interval timer setting clutch spring normally couples the interval timer pionion to the main drive gear for rotation therewith. A time-of-day setting clutch spring normally couples the minute input gear to the minute shaft for rotation therewith. Thus, the main drive gear is normally driven by the clock motor to rotate both the minute and interval timer drive pinions. The drive pinions in turn simultaneously drive the minute and interval timer input gears respectively. However, setting of the interval timer causes the interval timer setting clutch spring to slip so that rotation of the interval timer drive pinion is not transmitted to the main drive gear and minute drive United States Patent 0 3,534,545 Patented Oct. 20, 1970 ICC pinion and thus, setting motion of the interval timer is not transmitted to the clock motor and to the minute shaft. Similarly, setting of the clock mechanism causes the time-of-day setting clutch spring to slip so that the setting rotation of the minute shaft is not transmitted to the minute input gear and, in turn, to the clock motor. y

In the construction disclosed in the aforesaid Doyle Patent, two separate clutches are required, i.e. the timeof-day setting clutch and the interval timer setting clutch. Further, the minute input gear and the minute shaft (actually a sleeve which coaxially surrounds the interval timer shaft) are separate elements which are normally coupled by the time-of-day setting clutch spring. Not only does the necessity for providing two separate clutches add appreciably to the overall cost of the device, but problems have been encountered with failure of the time-of-day setting clutch spring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide clock and interval timer apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved clock and interval timer appartus utilizing a single clutch mechanism for both time-of-day and interval timer setting functions.

In accordance with one form of the inventon, the separate time-of-day setting clutch and interval timer setting clutch are replaced with a single, simplified clutch assembly which employs only one spring. This construction further permits simplification of the minute sleeve and minute input gear assembly, thus simplifying and reducing the cost of the device.

The invention, in one embodiment thereof, provides clock and interval timer apparatus of the type having a clock mechanism which includes a iirst input gear for driving the clock mechanism to indicate the passage of time, and means for manually driving the first input gear to set the clock mechanism. An interval timer mechanism also is provided and includes a second input gear for driving the timer mechanism ,from a preset timed interval position to a disengaged position, and means are provided for manually driving the second gear to set the timed interval. A driving motor is provided with a gear train which couples the driving motor and the iirst and second input gears for'driving the same. The gear train includes first and second pinions, which respectively mesh with the iirst and second input gears, and a third gear coaxial with the pinions and operatively coupled to the motor and driven thereby. Means are provided for mounting each of the pinions for independent rotation with respect to the other pinion and the third gear. Single clutch means are provided for normally coupling both of the pinions to the third gear for rotation therewith so that the motor normally drives the rst and second gears to cause the clock mechanism to indicate the passage of time and to drive the interval timer mechanism from a preset timed interval position to its disengaged position. The clutch means effectively decouples the iirst pinion from the third gear in response to manual driving of the rst gear, and decouples the second pinion from the third gear in response to manual driving of the second gear.

The above mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of attaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. l is a partial side elevational view, partly in cross-section and partly broken away, of a range timer illustrating the improved clock and interval timer apparatus of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the range timer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in cross-section illustrating in greater detail the embodiment of the improved time-of-day and interval timer setting clutch mechanism of the invention used in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 6--6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view further illustrating the construction of the minute sleeve and minute input gear of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the figures of the drawings, the improved clock and interval timer of the invention, generally indicated at 10, includes outer or top and base plates 12, 14 maintained in spaced-apart relationship by suitable posts (not shown). A conventional clock face and concentric interval timer dial is arranged on the upper surface of top plate 12.

The clock mechanism, generally indicated at 16, includes a minute input gear 18 having a pinion 20 and a minute sleeve or shaft 22 concentrically secured thereto for rotation therewith. As best seen in FIG. 7, minute input gear 18, pinion 20 and minute sleeve 22 may be integrally formed. Alternatively, minute input gear 18, pinion 20 and minute sleeve 22 may be formed as separate elements, but rigidly secured together for rotation as a unit. Minute input gear 18, pinion 20 and minute sleeve 22 are mounted for rotation on, but independently of, an interval timer setting shaft 24.

The minute assembly comprising minute input gear 18, pinion 20 and minute sleeve 22 drives an hour assembly comprising hour input gear 26 and hour sleeve 28, coaxially secured together for rotation as a unit, through a gear reduction comprising pinion 20, gear 30, and pinion 32, coaxially secured to gear 30 for rotation therewith. Gear 30 and pinion 32 are mounted on a shaft 34 having its ends journaled in top and base plates 12, 14 respectively. 'Ihe hour assembly, comprising input hour gear 26 and hour sleeve 28, is coaxially mounted on minute sleeve 22 for rotation thereon.

Hour sleeve 28 projects outwardly through an opening 36 in top plate 12 and has hour hand 38 secured thereto. Minute sleeve 22 projects upwardly beyond hour sleeve 28 and has minute hand 40 secured thereto. Interval timer setting shaft 24 projects upwardly beyond minute sleeve 22, where it is formed as an enlarged diameter section 25. A setting knob 42 and an interval timer indicating hand 44 are secured to enlarged diameter section 25.

As will be hereinafter described, manual rotation of setting knob 42, without depressing it so as to depress setting shaft 24, results in setting rotation of the interval timer mechanism 46. The lower extremity 48 of interval timer setting shaft 24 projects downwardly through opening 50 in base plate 14 and engages leaf spring element 52 having one end 54 secured to base plate 14, as by a rivet 53. Spring 52 normally biases interval timer setting shaft 24 upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 1.

The enlarged section 25 of setting shaft 24V has a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed dogs 56 formed in its lower extremity. Ille dogs cooperate with a corresponding pair of diametrically oppositely disposed notches 58 formed in the upper end of minute sleeve 22. Manual depression of setting knob 42 in the direction shown by arrow 60, against the force exerted by spring 52, causes dogs 56 to engage notches 58 so that manual rotation of setting knob 42 is accompanied by manual rotation of the minute assembly comprising minute input gear 18, pinion 20 and minute sleeve 22. Pinion 20 drives hour sleeve 28 through gear 30, pinion 32 and gear 26. Thus depressed rotation of setting knob 42 manually sets clock mechanism 16.

Referring now to FIG. 3 in conjunction with FIG. 1, interval timer mechanism 46 comprises interval timer input gear 62 mounted for rotation on interval timer setting shaft 24. Input gear 62 has an annular flange 64 depending therefrom and defining a cavity 66. A driving member 68 is disposed in cavity 66 and is secured to interval timer setting shaft 24 for rotation therewith. Member 68 has a pair of diametrically oppositely disposed ears 70, 72 respectively cooperatively engaging notches 74, 76 formed in flange 64. Thus, manual rotation of setting knob 42, either in the interval timer setting position shown in FIG. 1 or in its depressed clock setting position, will rotate member 68 and thus interval timer input gear 62.

Flange 64 has an inwardly extending projection 78 formed thereon which is normally engaged by a projection formed on the end of spring 52 and projecting upwardly through an opening in base plate 14 into the cavity 66. Interval timer input gear 62 also has a mutilated portion 82, i.e. a portion from which a number of teeth have been removed. As will hereinafter be more fully described, the position of projection 78 with reference to projection 80 shown in solid lines in FIG. 3 is the ZERO setting of the interval timer and in that setting, interval timer driving pinion 84 is aligned with the mutilated portion -82 of gear 62, i.e. out of driving mesh therewith. Gear -62 may be manually rotated by means of settng knob 42 in the direction shown by the arrow 86 to the desired timed interval setting, the maximum setting of one hour being determined by abutment of projection 78 with the opposite side of projection 80 as shown in dashed lines at 78a in FIG. 3. However, when setting knob 42 and interval timer setting shaft 24 are manually depressed, thereby depressing spring 52 to the position shown in dashed lines at 52a in FIG. l, projection 80 is moved downwardly out of abutting relationship with projection 78 on gear 62 thereby to permit unrestricted rotation of interval timer input gear 62 during the clock setting operation.

With the exception of the rigid attachment of minute input gear 18, pinion 20 and minute sleeve 22, the clock mechanism 16 and interval timer mechanism 46, as thus far described, may be the same as that disclosed and described in the aforesaid Doyle patent and reference may be had to that patent for other details of construction not forming a part of the present invention.

In order to drive the clock and interval timer mechanisms, a conventional clock motor 88 is mounted on base plate 14 and has driving pinion l90 secured to its output shaft 92. Pinion 90 drives gear 94, having pinion 96 coaxially secured thereto for rotation therewith. Gear 94 and pinion 96 are mounted on shaft 98, having its ends respectively journaled for rotation in the top and base plates 12, 14. Pinion 96- meshes with and drives main drive gear 100. Referring additionally particularly to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, gear 100 is mounted on shaft 102 having its upper end 104 journaled in top plate 12. A cap member 106 is secured to the bottom end 108 of shaft 102 and has a portion 110 journaled in base plate 14. More particularly, gearis mounted on portion 112 of shaft 102, which has a flat 1,14 formed thereon. Gear 100 has a central D-shaped opening 116 formed therein which slidably receives portion 112 of shaft 102. Thus, gear 100 is mounted for rotation with shaft 102 and for limited axial sliding movement with respect thereto.

Portion 118 of shaft 102, above portion 112, is joined A iirst washer 126 is disposed abo-ut shaft 102 between minute drive pinion 124 and the central portion 128 of gear 100, and another washer 12641 is mounted about shaft 102 between minute drive pinion 124 and shoulder 122. This mounting arrangement positions minute drive pinion 124 in driving mesh with minute input gear 18.

An interval timer drive pinion 84 is rotatably mounted on portion 130 of shaft 102, which is lbelow portion 112 and above cap member 106. A washer 132 is disposed about sha-ft 102 between pinion 84 and cap member 106. A leaf spring clutch member 134 is provided having a central opening 136 through which portion 130 of shaft 102 extends. The diametrically opposite ends 138, 140 of clutch member 134 engage the bottom surface of gear 100. Central portion 142 of spring clutch member 134, surrounding opening 136, resiliently engages a washer 144 which, in turn, engages interval timer drive pinion 84. This mounting arrangement positions interval timer drive pinion 84 in driving mesh with interval timer input gear 62.

It will now be seen that the resilient force exerted by clutch spring 134 biases main drive gear 100 into driving engagement with minute drive pinion 124 through washer 126. Pinion 124, in turn, is biased into engagement with shoulder 122. Similarly, clutch spring 134 biases interval timer drive pinion 84 into driving yengagement with end cap 106 through washer 132. In other Words leaf spring clutch 134 establishes a frictional coupling force connecting main gear 100 to the pinions 84 and 124. Thus, normally, the driving of main drive gear 100 by motor 88 through pinion 90, gear 94 and pinion 96, causes simultaneous rotation of minute drive pin-ion 124 and interval timer drive pinion 84. They, in turn, simultaneously drive minute input gear 18 and interval timer input gear `62 in the same direction, as shown by the arrow 146 in FIG. 3; unless, of course, interval timer drive pinion 84 has run out of mesh with interval timer input gear 62 by being in alignment with mutilated portion 82.

Assuming now that it is desired to set the interval timer, setting knob 42 is manually rotated thereby to rotate interval timer input gear I62 in the direction shown by the arrow 86 from the disengaged position as shown in FIG. 3 to the desired timed interval setting. This may be any rotational position betwen that shown in solid lines in FIG. 3 and the maximum position shown in dashed lines at 78a in FIG. 3. With the exemplication timer this maximum period would be sixty (60) minutes, as indicated by the indicia yin FIG. 2. However the interval timer may be designed to have other maximum timed interval settings. This manual rotation of interval timer input gear 62 is in a direction opposite to the direction of the torque exerted on interval timer drive pinion 84 by main drive gear 100 through clutch spring 134 and washer 144. This causes slippage between the clutch spring 134 and interval timer drive pinion 184 so that drive pinion 87 will rotate with respect to shaft 102 and gear 100. Meanwhile, clutch spring 134 continues to exert an axial force sufficient to couple minute drive pinion 124 to main drive gear 100 and thereby drive minute input gear 18 and clock mechanism 16. Thus, the movement incident to manual setting of the interval timer is not transmitted either to the clock mechanism 16 or to the clock motor 88.

Assume further that it is desired to set the clock mechanism and that the manual setting knob 42 is thus depressed so as to engage dogs 56 with notches 58 and then rotated resulting in simultaneous manual rotation of the minute input gear 18 and interval timer input gear 62. This manual rotation, which may be in either direction, will cause both of the pinions 84 and 124 to slip or rotate relative to shaft 102 and main drive gear 100, which continue to be driven by motor I88. As soon as the manual setting of the clock mechanism is terminated, clutch spring 134 again couples minute drive pinion 124 and interval timer drive pinion 84 for rotation with gear and the normal operation then continues.

It will be understood that, at least when energized, motor 88 exerts a relatively large resistance against a force tending to rotate in its reverse direction or tending to rotate it in its forward direction at other than its normal speed. The manual force for setting the interval timer mechanism 46 or for setting the clock mechanism 16 can be transferred from pinions 84 and 124 to the main drive gear 100 only through the frictional coupling force between the main gear 100 and the pinions 84, 124. Since gear 100 is rmly connected to drive motor 88, this frictional coupling force is insuflicient to alter the speed of main gear 100, as determined by motor 88. Also, during manual setting of the interval timer mechanism, the only connection between interval timer drive pinion 84 and minute drive pinion 124 is through the main gear 100 and shaft 102. As stated above, the frictional cou pling force between pinion 84 and the assembly comprising shaft 102 and gear 100 is insufficient to change the rotation of the shaft and gear by motor 88. Therefore, none of the interval timer setting motion is transferred to the clock drive pinion 124.

On the other hand the clock mechanism 16 and interval timer mechanism 46 offer relatively little resistance to advancement by motor 88 through main gear 100. Therefore the frictional coupling force between main gear 100 and interval timer drive pinion and between the main gear 100 and the minute drive pinion 124 is sufficient to transfer the driving or operational movement from the motor 88 to the interval timer mechanism 46 and clock mechanism 16, respectively. Spring clutch member 134 serves to maintain proper frictional coupling force between the various members mounted on shaft 102 despite variations due to manufacturing tolerances and wear during operation.

It will now be seen that the main drive gear 100, clutch spring 134, minute and interval timer drive pinions 124 and 84, cap member 106 and shaft 102 comprise a single clutch mechanism which functions as both a time-of-day setting clutch and an interval timer setting clutch, thus replacing the two separate clutches, each having a clutch spring, required in the construction ofthe aforesaid Doyle patent. It will further be seen that the provision of the single clutch assembly permits rigid attachment or integral formation of the minute gear, pinion and minute sleeve assembly thus simplifying the construction of the aforesaid Doyle patent in which the minute input gear was rotatably mounted on the minute sleeve and coupled thereto by the time-of-day clutch spring. It will also be seen that the mounting of the main drive gear 100 on shaft 102 by means of the D-shaped opening 116 and ilat 114 on shaft portion 112 permits limited axial movement of gear 100 relative to shaft 102 so that the single clutch spring 134 may be employed to allow slippage of both the minute drive pinion 124 and the interval timer drive pinion 84.

It will be readily understood that an audible alarm may be actuated by the interval timer mechanism at the conclusion of the predetermined timed interval in the manner described and illustrated in the aforesaid Doyle patent, and likewise that a range time switch mechanism may be operated by the clock mechanism, as also described and illustrated in the aforesaid Doyle patent. Such audible alarm and range time switch mechanisms are wellknown in the art and have been omitted from the present disclosure for the sake of simplicity and ease of understanding.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, we have described what, at present, is considered to be the preferred embodiments of our invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that numerous changes and modications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and it is therefore aimed in the appended claims to cover all equivalent variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In clock and interval timer apparatus; a clock mechanism including a first input gear for driving said clock mechanism to indicate the passage of time and means for manually driving said first input gear thereby to set said clock mechanism; an interval timer mechanism including a second input gear for driving said timer mechanism from a preset timed interval position to a disengaged position and means for manually driving said second input gear from its disengaged position to a timed interval position thereby to set said timed interval; a driving motor and a gear train coupling said motor to said iirst and second input gears for normally driving the same; said gear train including iirst and second pinions, respectively meshing with said iirst and second input gears, and a third gear operatively coupled to said motor and driven thereby; means for mounting each of said pinions for independent rotation with respect to the other of said pinions and said third gear; and single clutch means for normally coupling both of said pinions to said third gear for rotation therewith so that said motor normally drives said rst and second input gears to cause said clock mechanism to indicate the passage of time and to drive said interval timer mechanism from a preset timed interval position to its disengaged position; said clutch means effectively decoupling said rst pinion from said third gear in response to said manual driving of said rst gear, and effectively decoupling said second pinion from said third gear in response to said manual driving of said second gear. l

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clutch means comprises resilient means for providing a frictional force between said pinions and third gear to couple the same.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said mounting means includes a shaft having said pinions and third gear coaxially mounted thereon, each of said pinions being mounted for rotation with respect to said shaft. y

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said third gear is mounted between said pinions with freedom for axial movement with respect to said pinions and further comprising means on said shaft for respectively restraining axial movement of said pinions in directions away from said third gear.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 where said clutch means comprises a leaf spring clutch acting between one of said pinions and said third gear to provide an axial force between said third gear and each of said pinions.

`6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clock mechanism further includes a third pinion and a shaft driven by said rst input gear, a sleeve coaxially surrounding said shaft, and speed reducing gearing drivingly connecting said third pinion and said sleeve, said shaft and third pinion being rigidly connected to said rst input gear for rotation therewith atall times.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said mounting means includes a second shaft having said iirst and second pinions and said third gear coaxially mounted thereon with said third gear disposed between said first and second pinions, 'andwith each of said iirst and second pinions being mounted for rotation with respect to said second shaft; said second shaft'having rst and second means thereon for respectively restraining axial movement of said first and second pinions in directions away from said third gear; said third gear being mounted for rotation With said second shaft and for axial movement thereon with respect to said first and second pinions; said clutch means comprising a leaf spring clutch acting between one of said first and second pinions and said third gear to provide an axial force between said third gear and each of said first and second pinions.

`8. In a clock and interval timer apparatus; a clock mechanism including a rst input gear for driving said clock mechanism to indicate the passage of time and means for manually driving said iirst input gear to set said clock mechanism; an interval timer mechanism including a second input gear for driving Said timer mechanism from a preset timed interval position to a disengaged position and means for manually driving said second input gear from its disengaged position to a timed interval position; a driving motor and a gear train coupling said motor to said iirst and second input gears for normally driving the same; said gear train including rst and second pinions, respectively meshing with said rst and second input gears, and a third gear operatively coupled to said motor and driven thereby; means for mounting each of said pinions for independent rotation with respect to the other of said pinions and to said third gear, said motor offering greater resistive force to movement of said third gear by said pinions than either of said clock mechanism and interval timer mechanism olfer to driving by said 'motor through said third gear and said pinions; and single clutch means causing a frictional coupling force between each of said pinions and said third gear; the frictional coupling force being greater than the resistive force offered by either of said clock mechanism and said interval timer to driving by said motor through said third gear and said pinions and less than the resistive force oifered by said motor to movement of said third gear by said pinions.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said mounting means includes a shaft having said pinions and said coaxially mounted thereon, each of said pinions being mounted for rotation with respect to said shaft.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said third gear is mounted between said pinions with freedom for axial movement with respect to said pinions; there are means on said shaft respectively restraining axial movement of said pinions in directions away from said third gear; and said clutch means comprises a leaf spring clutch acting between one of said pinions and said third gear to provide an axial frictional coupling force between said third gear and each of said pinions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I 1,749,185 3/1930 Hicks S55-22.9 `2,166,683 7/1939 Grayson 58--39'5 2,360,179 10/ 1944 Urbas et al. 200-38 2,745,918 5/ 195 6 Stewart 200-36 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner L. R. FRANKLIN, Assistant Examiner lU.S. Cl. X.R. 58-7, 22.9v 

